East Carolina shuts out UTSA to win a second straight American postseason title

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East Carolina pitcher Ethan Norby ends the sixth inning, fanning UTSA pinch hitter Garrett Gruell with a base runner at third. – Video from the American Conference

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA coach Pat Hallmark says he believes his team is deserving of an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Whether the Roadrunners receive one of those bids is another matter altogether.

Hallmark and the Roadrunners will have to wait another 18 hours or so to find out after the East Carolina Pirates beat them 1-0 in the American Baseball Championship finals Sunday in Clearwater, Fla.

With the victory, the second-seeded Pirates won their second straight postseason title in the conference and an automatic bid into the NCAA’s field of 64.

The No. 1 Roadrunners, in turn, will be left waiting until 11 a.m. on Monday to learn whether they will be included in the NCAAs for the second year in a row.

If UTSA fails to qualify to play in a regional, it would make history as the first time that a regular-season champion in the American has been left out.

Both UTSA and East Carolina tied for first in the regular season.

“I really hope we get to play next weekend,” Hallmark said. “(Our players) deserve it. We are (an NCAA) tournament team.”

Regardless of what happens with the NCAA baseball committee evaluations, there should be no arguing that the Pirates had the best player on the field Sunday.

Pat Hallmark. UAB beat UTSA 23-11 in 8 innings in American Conference baseball on Saturday, May 16, in the final home game of the season at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA coach Pat Hallmark and the Roadrunners will learn Monday whether they will be invited to play in the 64-team NCAA tournament for the second straight season – File photo by Joe Alexander

Two days after throwing 41 pitches of relief in a tournament victory over the Rice Owls, Pirates lefthander Ethan Norby tossed another 99 in the championship game against the Roadrunners at the BayCare Ball Park in Clearwater, Fla.

He entered in the bottom of the second and pitched into the eighth to shut down an offense that averaged nearly nine runs a game this season.

Norby (7-3) pitched five and two thirds innings, allowed four hits, walked two and struck out eight in his second victory over the Roadrunners this season.

During the game, Hallmark said on ESPN that he wanted his players to relax more at the plate against Norby, who is regarded as the conference’s top prospect for selection in this summer’s Major League Baseball draft.

“We were tense (against) Norby because he’s good,” Hallmark told the media later. “He’s 92 or 93 (mph) and it plays up with some of the metrics. He can tick that inside corner. That’s what he does. He’s not getting lucky. Norby knows exactly what he’s doing, and he’s good at it.

“So, the tension was provided for the right reasons. You’re facing a good pitcher who’s presenting a good pitch that’s tricky. If you swing at ball zero, the one that’s in, he’s going to chew you up. He’s just flirting with 1-0 and it’s 92-93 (mph).

“He’s good. That’s all it was. You tip your hat to Norby as much as anything.”

Held back by injuries to a few of its best pitchers this season, East Carolina started righthander Brett Antolick and then deployed Norby and, finally, Gavin Marley and Charlie Hoagland.

Together, they held the Roadrunners to four hits. The Pirates walked four and struck out 13.

Offensively, East Carolina bunched three hits in the top of the sixth and scored the only run of the game on a Colby Wallace RBI single.

It was a miserable day at the plate for UTSA, which hit for a .129 average (on four of 31), including 0 for 19 with runners on base and 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

Even more frustrating, the Roadrunners put the leadoff hitter on base five times, including a four-inning stretch from the fifth through the eighth, and had nothing to show except for the zeroes.

In the ninth inning, East Carolina gave the ball to Hoagland, a freshman lefthander with a side-arm delivery.

UTSA sophomore Jordan Ballin led off with a solid at bat, fouling off several pitches, before he lined a ball to the opposite field.

East Carolina left fielder Gavin Whitaker initially charged in, before he corrected, stepped back, reached up and then made the catch falling down.

“Not the best read,” East Carolina coach Cliff Godwin said. “But I’ll take it.”

Hoagland retired Brandon Bishop and Aidan Eshelman on fly balls to end the game, with Godwin joining the Pirates’ postgame dog pile on the infield.

“First off,” Godwin told reporters later, “hats off to UTSA. They deserve to be in an NCAA regional. They are a really good program. Coach Hallmark is not fun to coach against because they’re super prepared and have really good players.

“They’re a force in the league. For us to beat ’em 1-0, it’s just … we played really good defense. We pitched great. Antolick got out of a jam in the first. Norby got us out of a jam in the second.

“He rolled for a little bit, and then we just kept passing the ball. Marley did what he was supposed to do and then Charlie … that (first batter, Ballin) he’s a tough out.

“It’s 3-2 and he’s fouling off pitch after pitch. A lot of guys would have just walked him. Then Gavin had a little bit of a mis-read but made the play (and Hoagland) just finished the ninth.

“He probably learned from watching Norby pitch.”

Norby beat UTSA 3-0 on March 27 at Roadrunner Field, allowing one hit and striking out 12 in seven innings.

In two games against the Roadrunners this season, he totaled 12 and two thirds shutout innings, allowing only five hits, while striking out 20.

UTSA was shut out only twice this season, both times by East Carolina.

On the other hand, the Roadrunners recorded a 3-2 record head-to-head against the Pirates, including 6-1 and 8-7 (in 10 innings) victories in San Antonio and 4-2 on Saturday in the American tournament semifinals at Clearwater.

Records

East Carolina 36-22-1
UTSA 38-20

Coming up

The NCAA’s 64-team postseason field will be revealed Monday on ESPN2 at 11 a.m.

Regional play will begin on Friday, with 16 sites each hosting a four-team, double-elimination bracket.

East Carolina coach Cliff Godwin was ejected from the game. UTSA beat East Carolina 6-1 in American Conference baseball on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Coach Cliff Godwin has guided the East Carolina Pirates to two straight postseason baseball titles in the American Conference. – File photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA hopes to make its second straight appearance after winning the Austin Regional last season and reaching the Los Angeles Super Regional, one step shy of the Men’s College World Series.

This year, the CWS opens on June 12 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.

Notable

It was a strange day for the Roadrunners, who opened the tournament with a 4-0 victory over Memphis on Friday and a 4-2 win over East Carolina on Saturday.

Not only did they fail to generate offense, they lost third baseman Diego Diaz on a freak play in the second inning with what Hallmark said was an injury to his oblique.

East Carolina’s Walker Barron grounded the ball to the left side, with Diaz and Eshelman, the shortstop, converging on it. Just before the ball arrived, base runner Michael Kalinich slowed down to avoid getting hit with it.

In the convergence of bodies, Eshelman and Diaz collided, with Diaz falling down. When he tried to throw, he held up as Barron charged toward first base for an infield single that loaded the bases.

After Diaz huddled with the trainer, UTSA elected to take him out and replace him with sophomore Mason Jacob. Both Diaz and Jacob finished zero for one at the plate.

Jacob had three assists, including one that started a double play, one of two for UTSA.

Drew Detlefsen also sparkled on defense, throwing out a runner at the plate from left field. In the fifth inning, he scooped up a single off the bat of Jack Herring and fired on two hops to catcher Andrew Stucky.

Barron, on the slide, was called out after trying to score from second base.

UTSA pitchers Jake Qualia, the starter, plus Christopher Gutierrez, Mike DeBattista and Sam Simmons held the Pirates to one run on eight hits.

Qualia, a freshman, worked the first three and a third innings. DeBattista, who took the loss, pitched four innings and yielded one run on five hits.


UTSA left fielder Drew Detlefsen fields a ball, reaches back and throws a two hopper to catcher Andrew Stucky, who tags out Walker Barron at the plate to end the fifth inning. – Video from UTSA athletics

UTSA to face East Carolina in American Baseball Championship finals

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

For the first time in four years, the UTSA Roadrunners have reached the finals of a conference tournament.

They’ll play the East Carolina Pirates on Sunday at 11 a.m. (central time) in Clearwater, Fla., for the title in the American Baseball Championship.

Top-seeded UTSA qualified for the finals with a 4-2 win over East Carolina on Saturday morning.

By Saturday night, the No. 2 Pirates also made it through to the final game by defeating and eliminating the seventh-seeded Wichita State Shockers, 11-3.

In the first game of the day at BayCare Ball Park in Clearwater, Drew Detlefsen homered and drove in two runs, Lane Haworth made a sensational play in right field and Connor Kelley retired the last five batters in a row to secure the win.

Connor Kelley. UTSA beat Charlotte 11-5 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Making his second relief appearance in two days, UTSA’s Connor Kelley retired five batters in a row to finish off the East Carolina Pirates Saturday afternoon in Clearwater, Fla. – File photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA last appeared in a final in 2022, when the Roadrunners reached the Conference USA title game. In a game played at Hattiesburg, Miss., they fell 9-8 to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

The Roadrunners haven’t won a conference final since 2013 when they beat Dallas Baptist 11-4 and claimed the Western Athletic Conference crown in Grand Prairie under former coach Jason Marshall.

Entering the American’s tournament this week in Clearwater, Fla., the Roadrunners were not on top of their game.

They had lost five of their last eight games overall and four of their last six in conference play.

Last weekend, as UTSA was losing two of three at home to the UAB Blazers, the Pirates were sweeping three straight on the road against the FAU Owls.

As a result, East Carolina tied for first with UTSA in the final regular-season standings.

The Roadrunners did not allow the negative turn of events to affect them as they opened play in Clearwater.

Like the Pirates, they had a double bye into Friday’s quarterfinals, where they shut down the Memphis Tigers, 4-0, behind the shutout pitching of Conor Myles and Kelley.

As a result, they moved into Saturday’s semifinal matchup with the Pirates focused on sending the No. 2 seed in the tournament into the loser’s bracket.

One of the most focused players on the UTSA team at the moment is Detlefsen, who led the Roadrunners offensively with a two-for-four performance and two RBIs.

Detlefsen cranked a solo home run in the first inning and added an RBI single in a two-run fourth to account for the last run of the game.

Meanwhile, the UTSA pitching and defense that had been so inconsistent in the last few weeks of the season turned out to be the story of the day against East Carolina.

Despite six walks, the Roadrunners held the Pirates to two runs on six hits behind Gunnar Brown, Chris Gutierrez, Sam Simmons and Kelley.

Haworth made the highlight play of the day for UTSA in the sixth inning.

With the Roadrunners protecting a two-run lead, Walker Barron hit a one-out single off Simmons. Austin Irby followed with a long drive to right field that appeared headed for extra bases.

Haworth, in right field, ran and leaped at the wall in the corner to make the catch.

Caught running on the play without tagging up, Barron scrambled to try and make it back to first base, but Haworth’s throw from the outfield to Caden Miller beat him to the bag for an inning-ending double play.

Simmons went on to complete four and two thirds of an inning, allowing only one run on four hits.

With East Carolina batting in the eighth, another key moment in the game unfolded as Colby Wallace drew a one-out walk.

At that juncture, Michael Kalinich proceeded to work a 2-1 count, prompting a mound visit from UTSA coach Pat Hallmark.

Hallmark ended up taking the ball from Simmons and summoning Kelley, a 6-foot-5 strikeout artist, from the bullpen.

Kelley did not disappoint. He struck out four of the next five batters.

On his first pitch, he threw it high for a three-ball count. But on the next two, Kelley reached back and fired two in a row past Kalinich, who swung and missed both.

Kelley followed by catching Barron looking on strike three for the third out, painting the outside corner with another fastball.

In the ninth, Kelley retired three straight to end the game, including strikeouts of Nick Parham and Grady Lenahan.

Kelley’s power show brought his teammates pouring out of the dugout to celebrate.

Seeking their second straight NCAA tournament berth, the Roadrunners (38-19) need to win on Sunday to make sure they make it into the 64-team field.

Unlike last season, when they left Clearwater with 44 victories, they are not in a commanding position for an at-large NCAA bid should they come up short of the American postseason title.

Notable

In the second game of the day, Wichita State’s Ethan Gonzalez, a junior from Smithson Valley, produced five hits – including a homer and two doubles – in powering the Shockers to a 14-12 victory, ousting the UAB Blazers from the tournament.

American Baseball Championship
At Clearwater, Fla.
(All times central)

Wednesday

Game 1 – No. 7 Wichita State beats No. 6 FAU, 3-2
Game 2 – No. 5 Memphis beats No. 8 Charlotte, 13-9

Thursday

Game 3 – No. 3 Rice beats No. 7 Wichita State, 5-4
Game 4 – No. 5 Memphis beats No. 4 UAB, 7-3

Friday

Game 5 – No. 2 East Carolina beats No. 3 Rice, 4-3
Game 6 – No. 1 UTSA beats No. 5 Memphis, 4-0
Game 7 – No. 4 UAB beats No. 3 Rice, 9-6
Game 8 – No. 7 Wichita State beats No. 5 Memphis, 6-4

Saturday

Game 9 – No. 1 UTSA beats No. 2 East Carolina, 4-2
Game 10 – No. 7 Wichita State beats No. 4 UAB, 14-12
Game 11 – No. 2 East Carolina beats No. 7 Wichita State, 11-3 (eight innings)

Sunday

Game 12 – No. 1 UTSA vs. East Carolina, 11 a.m.

Eliminated

Rice, UAB, Memphis, FAU, Wichita State, Charlotte

Records

UTSA 38-19
East Carolina 35-22-1
Rice 35-24
UAB 32-26
Memphis 24-34
FAU 28-28
Wichita State 31-29
Charlotte 28-28

American Baseball Championship: UTSA’s Myles, Kelley combine to shut out Memphis, 4-0

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners kept the anxious moments to a minimum on Friday, riding the pitching of Conor Myles and Connor Kelley to a 4-0 victory over the Memphis Tigers in Clearwater, Fla.

Playing their first game in the American Baseball Championship on the third day of the tournament, the top-seeded Roadrunners cooled off a Tigers team that had won two in the last two days in the postseason event at BayCare Ballpark.

Myles and Kelley, perhaps the team’s top two pitchers, combined to hold the No. 5 seed Tigers to five hits as the Roadrunners cruised to their 37th win of the season and advanced in the winners bracket.

They’ll play the No. 2 seed East Carolina Pirates at 9 a.m. on Saturday (central time) for a berth in Sunday’s finals.

The Tigers, who beat the Roadrunners two out of three in Memphis two weeks ago, will play next on Friday night against the Wichita State Shockers in an elimination game.

Myles, named on Tuesday as the conference’s pitcher of the year, threw 101 pitches in five innings to earn the win. Allowing only two hits, he improved to 10-1.

The lefthander from Australia experienced some trouble with command early and ended up walking four.

But he consistently flummoxed Memphis hitters by hitting the top of the zone on two-strike counts. As a result, he fanned eight batters.

Kelley, a 6-foot-5 junior from Grand Oaks High School in Spring, threw 61 pitches and worked the last four innings for his first save. He allowed three hits and no walks while striking out four.

With one out in the ninth, Memphis threw a scare into UTSA by reaching base on an error and an infield single on consecutive at bats.

The error was charged to Kelley as he ran over to cover first base on a Shane Cox grounder to second, only to mishandle the throw from Jordan Ballin.

The next batter, Michael Gupton, used his speed to beat out a high-bouncing ground ball to Ballin at second. Gupton was awarded a hit after the throw pulled Caden Miller off the bag at first.

From there, Kelley escaped further damage, as Trae Cassidy lined out to left field and Tyler Harrington popped up to second to end the game.

Defensively, the play of the day for the Roadrunners may have been made by catcher Andrew Stucky, who threw out speedy Javon Hernandez in the third inning as he tried to steal second base.

Memphis, one of the most formidable base-stealing teams in the nation, ended the day 0-for-1 in stolen base attempts.

Drew Detlefsen, named Tuesday as the conference’s player of the year, served as a constant nuisance to Memphis pitching.

He hit the ball hard three times, notched two hits and drove in one run, his conference-leading 68th RBI of the season.

Detlefsen accounted for the first run of the game in the third inning when he ripped an RBI double to left field off Memphis starter Seth Garner.

Making his first start in the postseason, Eshelman had initiated the rally when he reached on a one-out double to left. He scored to make it 1-0 when Detlefsen’s drive one-hopped to the fence.

UTSA also scored runs on an RBI double by Christian Hallmark in the fourth, a sacrifice fly by Ballin in the sixth and an RBI single by Stucky in the seventh.

Garner (1-6) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits through six innings.

Records

Memphis 24-33
UTSA 37-19

Coming up

East Carolina vs. UTSA, 9 a.m. (central) on Saturday, at Clearwater, Fla.

Notable

Earlier Friday, No. 2 East Carolina held off third-seeded Rice 4-3. Both UTSA and East Carolina were awarded double byes into the quarterfinals this year as the top two seeds in the original eight-team field.

In the first of two Friday afternoon/evening elimination games, the fourth-seeded UAB Blazers defeated the No. 3 Rice Owls 9-6.

Alex Dupuy’s solo home run sparked a four-run ninth for the Blazers, who advanced to play next against either Memphis or Wichita State.

UAB improved to 1-1 in Clearwater, and now the Blazers need to win twice on Saturday to advance to Sunday’s title game.

The Owls scored three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth for a 6-5 advantage, but they couldn’t hold on.

As a result, they were ousted from the tournament with their second loss of the day and a 1-2 record in Clearwater.

Rice’s first full season under Coach David Pierce likely is over. The Owls, who surged at the end of the season to claim third place in the regular season, fell to 35-24 overall.

American Baseball Championship
At Clearwater, Fla.
(All times central)

Wednesday

Game 1 – No. 7 Wichita State beats No. 6 FAU, 3-2
Game 2 – No. 5 Memphis beats No. 8 Charlotte, 13-9

Thursday

Game 3 – No. 3 Rice beats No. 7 Wichita State, 5-4
Game 4 – No. 5 Memphis beats No. 4 UAB, 7-3

Friday

Game 5 – No. 2 East Carolina beats No. 3 Rice, 4-3
Game 6 – No. 1 UTSA beats No. 5 Memphis, 4-0
Game 7 – No. 4 UAB beats No. 3 Rice, 9-6 (Rice is eliminated)
Game 8 – No. 7 Wichita State vs. No. 5 Memphis, late

Saturday

Game 9 – No. 2 East Carolina vs. No. 1 UTSA, 9 a.m.
Game 10 – UAB vs. Game 8 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 11 – Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Sunday

Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 11 a.m.

Eliminated

Rice, FAU, Charlotte

Records

UTSA 37-19
East Carolina 34-21-1
Rice 35-24
UAB 32-25
Memphis 24-33
FAU 28-28
Wichita State 29-28
Charlotte 28-28

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Once dedicated to baseball and pushups in Mexico, Diaz has come a long way at UTSA

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Diego Diaz. UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA junior Diego Diaz tried on his conference championship cap after lighting up the UAB Blazers with two home runs last Friday night – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Nine years ago, on the eve of the international bracket championship game at the Little League World Series, 12-year-old Diego Diaz turned to the ESPN cameras.

‘Hey, Diego, can we ask you some questions?”

“Yeah, sure, why not?” he said.

As it turned out, Diaz was as cool on camera on that summer day in 2017 as he looked in wearing a green and red-trimmed Mexico team jersey.

In a game of 21 questions, he fielded some in English and some in Spanish.

Who is your favorite baseball player?

“Jose Altuve.”

Thor, or Iron Man?

“Iron Man.”

And on it went, until, finally, the reporter asked about his preference in workouts.

Jumping jacks or pushups?

“Pushups,” Diaz replied.

Diego Diaz. UTSA baseball beat Dallas Baptist 12-8 on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Diego Diaz, a native of Mission, Texas, and a former resident of Reynosa, Mexico, has enjoyed a standout junior season with the Roadrunners. He’s hitting .299, including .361 since April 10. For the season, his OPS stands at a career-high .991. – File photo by Joe Alexander

At that, the inquisitor asked if Diaz could drop down and do 10, and the young man who hailed at the time from Reynosa, Mexico, on the U.S. border in the Rio Grande Valley, proceeded to show off his fitness.

“One, two, three…”

On all fours, Diaz counted it out to 10, sprang back to his feet and modestly smiled for the camera.

At that moment, he undoubtedly was the darling of every ESPN-watching abuela south of the border.

Today, as another chapter unfolds in his baseball story, the starting third baseman for the UTSA Roadrunners doesn’t think too much about his brush with fame during that wondrous week in Williamsport, Pa.

Not unless a reporter or one of his teammates brings it up, that is. Sometimes, he acknowledged, a teammate will rib him a little about the pushups.

“It’s fun, though,” Diaz said. “It’s funny.”

At the same time, it is interesting that, nine years after Williamsport, all those pushups might just be paying dividends for the Roadrunners as they prepare to play their first game in the American Baseball Championship.

Going into Friday’s game in Clearwater, Fla., against the Memphis Tigers, Diaz, one of the Roadrunners’ smallest players at 5-feet-10 and 180 pounds, has developed into one of their most reliable hitters.

And, lately, one of their best power threats.

Diaz, mired in a 2-or-32 slump from March 17 through April 7, has turned his game around completely.

Since April 10, the native of Mission, Texas, a UTSA junior who once played both baseball and football in high school at Sharyland, is batting a robust .361.

Pat Hallmark. UTSA beat Wichita State 13-7 in American Conference baseball in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, May 2, 2026. - photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA coach Pat Hallmark applauded junior Diego Diaz for bouncing back to have ‘a great year’ following his 2025 sophomore season, when he had a reduced role on the team. – File photo by Joe Alexander

In that time, he’s on a streak with 26 hits in 72 at bats.

On top of that, since April 25, he has blasted six home runs and four doubles, including a home run and a double at Texas.

Against the UAB Blazers on the last weekend of the regular season, Diaz surged again, going six for 14 with two doubles and four homers.

“Just seeing the ball well,” Diaz said, after hitting two homers on Friday in the victory that clinched back-to-back regular-season championships for the Roadrunners.

In the big picture, it’s been a bounce-back year for Diaz. As a freshman in 2024, he played 36 games with 33 starts, hit .309 and made the American Conference’s all freshman team.

Last season, he played in 41 games but started only 16. Diaz also got to bat only about half as much as he did as a freshman and, consequently, hit a very cool .212.

This year, the player whose walk-up music is ‘Volver, Volver,’ a traditional Mexican ballad about yearning to return to a lost love, has been true to the song’s lyrics.

He’s returned to his best baseball self, playing in 52 games and starting 44, while hitting at a .299 clip with a career-high OPS of .991.

As far as UTSA coach Pat Hallmark is concerned, Diaz’s success on the field this season brings him a great deal of satisfaction.

“When I think about how I feel about (a player’s progress), it’s almost always joy for the player,” the coach said. “That’s mostly how I feel.”

Ever since the regular season ended last Saturday, Hallmark mostly has been focused on figuring out how to get his team to play at a higher level in the tournament.

Diego Diaz. UTSA beat South Florida 7-3 on Saturday in the first game of an American Conference baseball doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Diaz said earlier this week that the conference co-champion Roadrunners, himself included, need to tighten up their defense for the conference tournament. UTSA is set to play its first game in Clearwater today against Memphis. – File photo by Joe Alexander

“But for these guys you’re asking me about,” he said, “the overwhelming feeling I have is joy for the player, because they’ve been through a lot.”

Last year, as a sophomore, Diaz took his reduced role in stride after Hallmark brought in infielders Ty and Nathan Hodge and Norris McClure.

“We got lucky in the portal and landed some really talented guys, and Diego didn’t play as much as he wanted,” Hallmark said. “He handled it wonderfully, like a real grown-up, like a mature young man, and then this year to have the great year he’s having, I’m happy for Diego.”

Diaz’s relationship with the coach is good despite him having to return as a junior and work his way back into the starting lineup.

“Oh, it’s a lot of fun,” he said, when asked about playing for Hallmark and assistant Ryan Aguayo. “I played a lot my freshman year, and it was a lot of fun. Last year, I didn’t play a lot. But, I stayed here just because I love playing for him.

“It’s always fun, and he knows what he’s talking about. Coach Aguayo does, too. I love playing here.”

On May 11, he was reminded during a teleconference with the media that his batting average since April 10 was .350, and then was asked about how he had pulled out of his three-week slump.

“That’s just baseball,” he said. “It’s playing up and down a lot. I’m not going to be hitting .350 the whole time. Just kind of, when that slump is happening, just keep working through it and just control what I can control. From there, stuff happens.”

For a young man his size, the evolution of his power numbers on an ascending arc has been nothing short of astonishing. Eight doubles, three triples and nine home runs this season.

It is all in the training, explained Diaz, whose regular regimen of pushups in Reynosa as a grade-school prodigy has given way to a collegiate strength and conditioning program north of the border, in northwest San Antonio.

“It all just comes from enjoying and embracing the weight room,” he said, “and obviously the coaching staff helping with my swing … Just putting the work in the weight room, (it) helps a lot.”

“And, gaining weight, so, eating a lot of food (helps, too).”

Records

Memphis 24-32
UTSA 36-19

Coming up

Fifth-seeded Memphis vs. top-seeded UTSA, Friday, at about noon

If the Roadrunners win, they would play in a winners bracket game Saturday at 9 a.m. against the East Carolina Pirates.

If they lose, they would play again Friday at around 7 or 7:30 p.m. against the Wichita State Shockers in an elimination game.

American Baseball Championship: East Carolina holds off Rice

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Jack Herring stroked three extra-base hits, including a solo homer, in leading the second-seeded East Carolina Pirates to a 4-3 victory Friday over the No. 3 Rice Owls at the American Baseball Championship.

Playing its first game on the third day of the tournament, at Clearwater, Fla., East Carolina used pitchers Ryan Towers, Joseph Webb and Ethan Norby to stifle the Owls on six hits.

Towers earned the victory by working five and two thirds innings and giving up two runs, with only one earned. Norby pitched the final two and a third innings for his first save of the season.

Rice scratched out a run in the ninth after Norby walked the first two batters of the inning.

Norby, a first-team, all-conference pick, later struck out Paul Smith with the tying run at third to end the game.

For the Owls, who fell to 1-1 in the tournament, starter Ethan Sanders took the loss. The Pirates scored twice in the third and fourth innings off Sanders to take control of the game.

In the third, Herring ripped a solo home run. Grady Lenahan and Herring socked RBI doubles in the fourth.

American Baseball Championship
At Clearwater, Fla.

Wednesday

Game 1 – No. 7 Wichita State beats No. 6 FAU, 3-2
Game 2 – No. 5 Memphis beats No. 8 Charlotte, 13-9

Thursday

Game 3 – No. 3 Rice beats No. 7 Wichita State, 5-4
Game 4 – No. 5 Memphis beats No. 4 UAB, 7-3

Friday

Game 5 – No. 2 East Carolina beats No. 3 Rice, 4-3
Game 6 – No. 1 UTSA vs. No. 5 Memphis, 47 minutes afterward
Game 7 – No. 4 UAB vs. No. 3 Rice, 3:30 p.m.
Game 8 – No. 7 Wichita State vs. Game 6 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Saturday

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 9 a.m.
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 11 – Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Sunday

Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 11 a.m.

American Baseball Championship: Memphis to challenge top-seeded UTSA

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The Matt Riser-coached Memphis Tigers raised eyebrows two weeks ago when they beat the UTSA Roadrunners two out of three in a series at their home ball park in Tennessee.

In that regard, top-seeded UTSA likely isn’t surprised that Memphis has won two straight games at the American Baseball Championship.

After downing the Charlotte 49ers 13-9 on opening-day Wednesday at the tournament in Clearwater, Fla., the fifth-seeded Tigers followed with a 7-3 victory over the error-prone UAB Blazers on Thursday.

As a result, Memphis has advanced to Friday with some momentum to play against regular-season, co-champion UTSA.

The No. 3 Rice Owls will take on the No. 2 East Carolina Pirates at 8 a.m. central time, followed by the Tigers and the Roadrunners at noon.

The winning teams will get the rest of the day off, but the losers will play again later in the afternoon to complete Friday’s four-game bonanza at the BayCare Ballpark.

For Memphis, left-handed starter David Case pitched eight innings to earn the victory, while leadoff batter Freddy Rodriguez stroked three hits to give him seven in his first two games of the tournament.

After falling behind in the first inning, the Tigers scored four runs in the second inning off UAB starter Brendan Carter to take a 4-2 lead. They added three more in the seventh for the eventual final score.

The Blazers, who ranked eighth out of 10 teams in the American in fielding percentage, made five errors in their tournament opener.

Rice downs Wichita State

The third-seeded Owls played long ball and then small ball and rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth Thursday to edge the No. 7 Shockers 5-4 in the first game of the day.

Kutter-Gage Webb led off for Rice in the ninth and slammed a solo home run to right field off Brady Hamilton.

Jacob Devenny, swinging on a 2-0 count, followed with a single up the middle. Next man up, Cole Green, bunted toward the second baseman for a single that moved Devenny to third.

Lorenzo Rios bunted, as well, and it scored Devenny with the winning run on a throwing error by Hamilton.

American Baseball Championship
At Clearwater, Fla.

Wednesday’s games

Game 1 – No. 7 Wichita State beats No. 6 FAU, 3-2
Game 2 – No. 5 Memphis beats No. 8 Charlotte, 13-9

Thursday

Game 3 – No. 3 Rice beats No. 7 Wichita State, 5-4
Game 4 – No. 5 Memphis beats No. 4 UAB, 7-3

Friday

Game 5 – No. 2 East Carolina vs. No. 3 Rice, 8 a.m.
Game 6 – No. 1 UTSA vs. No. 5 Memphis, 47 minutes afterward
Game 7 – No. 4 Memphis vs. Game 5 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 8 – No. 7 Wichita State vs. Game 6 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Saturday

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 9 a.m.
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 11 – Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Sunday

Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 11 a.m.

Notable

All games on ESPN+ except for Game 12, on ESPNEWS. The tournament was single elimination on Wednesday, meaning that FAU and Charlotte have been ousted. The tournament is now double elimination until a single championship game on Sunday.

Records

UTSA 36-19
East Carolina 33-21-1
Rice 35-22
UAB 31-25
Memphis 24-32
x-FAU 28-28
Wichita State 29-28
x-Charlotte 28-28

x-eliminated from the tournament

Wichita State, Memphis advance in American Baseball Championship

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The Wichita State Shockers on Wednesday scored two runs to take the lead in the top of the ninth inning, and Johnny Nuanez closed in bottom half to beat the FAU Owls, 3-2, on the first day of the American Baseball Championship.

In the second game of the day at Clearwater, Fla., Michael Gupton hit two home runs as the fifth-seeded Memphis Tigers opened an 11-run lead and held on to defeat the Charlotte 49ers, 13-9.

Tournament results
At Clearwater, Fla.

Wednesday’s games

Game 1 – No. 7 Wichita State beats No. 6 FAU, 3-2
Game 2 – No. 5 Memphis beats No. 8 Charlotte, 13-9

Thursday

Game 3 – No. 3 Rice vs. No. 7 Wichita State, noon
Game 4 – No. 4 UAB vs. No. 5 Memphis, 47 minutes afterward

Friday

Game 5 – No. 2 East Carolina vs. Game 3 winner, 8 a.m.
Game 6 – No. 1 UTSA vs. Game 4 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 7 – Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 8 – Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Saturday

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 9 a.m.
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 11 – Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Sunday

Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 11 a.m.

Detlefsen, Myles win major awards for UTSA baseball in the American Conference

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Drew Detlefsen. East Carolina beat UTSA 3-0 in American Conference baseball on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Senior outfielder Drew Detlefsen was named on Tuesday as the Player of the Year in the American Conference. The senior from Trophy Club batted .385. His 92 hits led the American and and ranked tied for second in the nation. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners figured they would be good in baseball again this season even after losing stalwarts such as Mason Lytle, James Taussig, Braylon Owens and Zach Royse to the professional ranks.

But when the Roadrunners lost both infielder Nathan Hodge and pitcher Robert Orloski to season-ending arm injuries, questions about the team’s viability as an American Conference contender mounted.

UTSA answered most of the questions by finishing tied for first in the American and earning the No. 1 seed in this week’s conference tournament in Clearwater, Fla.

Conor Myles. UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA’s Conor Myles has been named Pitcher of the Year in the American. Myles posted a 9-1 record with a 3.52 earned run average. – File photo by Joe Alexander

On top of that, they dominated the postseason awards announced Tuesday afternoon.

Senior outfielder Drew Detlefsen was named Player of the Year and graduate Conor Myles Pitcher of the Year.

It was the second straight year that a UTSA player under Coach Pat Hallmark has been named Player of the Year after Lytle won it last spring.

Before addressing his own award, Detlefsen said the mood of the team is “great” heading into Clearwater.

“We’re going into this tournament ready to compete, ready to win,” he said. “Ready to take home a conference tournament championship. I think the morale is high right now. We’re going to get after it on Friday.”

Detlefsen said it feels good to win the individual honor, continuing the legacy of success at UTSA, led by Hallmark and assistant coach Ryan Aguayo.

“Just fortunate to get Player of the Year this year,” he said.

Detlefsen has made a sizable improvement in his fielding since he arrived at UTSA in 2025.

This season, he was a standout in left field with the ability to make acrobatic catches at the wall and throw out runners on the bases.

But as a .385 hitter, which ranks second in the conference and 29th in the nation, he won the award largely because of his bat.

A native of Trophy Club, in the DFW area, he led the conference in both hits (92) and RBI (67).

His 92 hits are tied for second in NCAA Division I with Terrance Grines of Tennessee-Martin, only eight shy of the national leader, Jarren Advincula of the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets.

“I honestly didn’t know that,” Detlefsen told reporters Tuesday. “That’s pretty awesome.

“I’m going to try to continue to hit this weekend going forward into, hopefully, (NCAA) regionals and see where I get at the end of the season.”

Hallmark has been hard on Detlefsen at times this year, trying to make sure he reached his potential. The Roadrunners’ offensive catalyst didn’t take it personally.

“He’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” said the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder, who hit a team-leading 13 home runs. “He gets the most out of me.”

Pat Hallmark. UAB beat UTSA 23-11 in 8 innings in American Conference baseball on Saturday, May 16, in the final home game of the season at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Coach Pat Hallmark will lead the Roadrunners into Clearwater, Fla., this week as the No. 1 seed in the American tournament. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Detlefsen and Myles joined Caden Miller, Andrew Stucky and Sam Simmons as first-team all conference selections, while second-team honors went to Connor Kelley.

While Myles, Simmons and Kelley led the pitching staff this season, Miller played first base and outfield. Stucky was a catcher and also a designated hitter.

As a Saturday starter, Myles (9-1) led the conference in wins and ranked fifth in earned run average (3.52).

“(Pitcher of the Year) means a lot,” he said. “It was a goal that I had the entire year, especially at the start of the year after Rob got hurt. I knew that I had to pick up some slack with Rob not being available.

“I think the coaches just put me in a great position to succeed, and even though our defense has looked a little bit iffy at some points, they definitely were a big reason for my successful year this year.”

Despite UTSA losing five of its last eight games overall and its last two series in conference play, Myles said he feels good about the team’s chances going into the tournament.

“I think we got a really good chance, actually,” he said. “I mean, we have to win three games (to win the postseason title). Three games and we’re into another (NCAA) regionals.

“There’s been some bumps in the road,” he said. “We’ve seen how good this team can be when we play good, sound baseball.

“If we can get back to that, which I have no doubt that we can, we’re going to be a pretty tough team to beat.”

Asked if he thinks UTSA needs to win three in Clearwater to make the NCAA field, Myles said he didn’t know, but he doesn’t want to leave it to the committee.

“I’d rather go in there and win the conference tournament,” he said. “It’s also the only thing I haven’t really done since I’ve been here. I’ve been to a regional. I’ve been to a super (regional).

“Never won a conference tournament, so that’s something I’m really trying to go for this year.”

Caden Miller. UTSA beat Wichita State 13-7 in American Conference baseball in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, May 2, 2026. - photo by Joe Alexander

Caden Miller, a first-team, all-conference selection, finished the regular season third in the American with a .377 batting average. – File photo by Joe Alexander

American Conference
Postseason awards

Player of the Year
Drew Detlefsen, senior outfielder, UTSA

Pitcher of the Year
Conor Myles, graduate student, LHP, UTSA

Newcomer Position Player of the Year
Jayson Jones, senior, infielder, Wichita State

Newcomer Pitcher of the Year
Tanner Wiggins, redshirt sophomore, RHP, Rice

Defensive Player of the Year
Jevin Relaford, senior, infielder, South Florida

Coach of the Year
Casey Dunn, UAB

All-Conference First Team
P – Ethan Norby, junior, East Carolina
P – James Litman, sophomore, Florida Atlantic
P – Conor Myles, graduate, UTSA
RP – Joseph Webb, senior, East Carolina
RP – Sam Simmons, senior, UTSA
C – Andrew Stucky, graduate, UTSA

Andrew Stucky. UTSA beat South Florida 11-3 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA graduate student catcher Andrew Stucky hit .302 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs. . – File photo by Joe Alexander


1B – Caden Miller, sophomore, UTSA
2B – Braden Burress, sophomore, East Carolina
SS – Jevin Relaford, senior, South Florida
3B – Jayson Jones, senior, Wichita State
OF – JP Head, senior, UAB
OF – Drew Detlefsen, senior, UTSA
OF – Jason Wachs, sophomore, Tulane
DH – Dylan Koontz, graduate, Charlotte
UTL – Max Price, redshirt junior, UAB

All-Conference Second Team
P – Ryland Urbanczyk, redshirt junior, Rice
P – Connor Kelley, junior, UTSA
P – Matthew Cuccias, junior, Wichita State
RP – Ty Thames, freshman, Rice
RP – Brady Pacha, graduate, Wichita State
C – Lance Trippel, senior, South Florida
1B – Cody Gunderson, senior, Charlotte
2B – JC Davis, junior, Rice
SS – Javon Hernandez, graduate, Memphis
3B – Nick Romano, redshirt senior, Florida Atlantic
OF – Alec DeMartino, graduate, Charlotte
OF – Todd Hudson, senior, Charlotte
OF – Jack Herring, senior, East Carolina
DH – Landon Beaver, sophomore, UAB
UTL – Matt Rose, senior, South Florida

All-Freshman Team
Austin Pierzynski, catcher, UAB
Baylor Roberts, shortstop, UAB
Carter Samuelson, pitcher, UAB
Grady Lenahan, outfielder, East Carolina
Ethan Rose, pitcher, East Carolina
Ethan Sanders, pitcher, Rice
Ty Thames, pitcher, Rice
Jack Lutz, third base, South Florida
Dominic Pontbriant, pitcher, South Florida
Michael Senay, pitcher, South Florida

Sam Simmons. UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Sam Simmons won first-team, all conference honors after going 7-4 with a 2.51 earned run average and five saves. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Tournament schedule
At Clearwater, Fla.
Times listed are central

Wednesday

Game 1 – No. 6 FAU vs No. 7 Wichita State, noon.
Game 2 – No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 8 Charlotte, 47 minutes afterward

Thursday

Game 3 – No. 3 Rice vs. Game 1 winner, noon
Game 4 – No. 4 UAB vs. Game 2 winner, 47 minutes afterward

Friday

Game 5 – No. 2 East Carolina vs. Game 3 winner, 8 a.m.
Game 6 – No. 1 UTSA vs. Game 4 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 7 – Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 8 – Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Saturday

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 9 a.m.
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 11 – Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Sunday

Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 11 a.m.

Notable

UTSA is advancing plans for improvements in baseball player development and also in the fan experience at Roadrunner Field, according to a news release published Tuesday on the athletic department website.

Plans feature a dedicated player development center that includes a new locker room, student-athlete lounge, equipment areas, batting cages and pitching development spaces.

This phase of the project is anticipated to break ground in early 2027.

Additional enhancements to fan amenities, including premium hospitality and seating areas, upgraded concessions and improved restroom facilities, are also being planned.

Connor Kelley. UTSA beat Charlotte 11-5 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Connor Kelley, a second team, all conference selection, had a 5-2 record and a 3.26 earned run average. He led the Roadrunners with 65 strikeouts. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Top-seeded UTSA set to start play in American Championship on Friday

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The American Baseball Championship tournament starts Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla., with top-seeded UTSA, having a double bye, opening play on Friday.

Wednesday

Game 1 – No. 6 FAU vs No. 7 Wichita State, noon.
Game 2 – No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 8 Charlotte, 47 minutes afterward

Thursday

Game 3 – No. 3 Rice vs. Game 1 winner, noon
Game 4 – No. 4 UAB vs. Game 2 winner, 47 minutes afterward

Friday

Game 5 – No. 2 East Carolina vs. Game 3 winner, 8 a.m.
Game 6 – No. 1 UTSA vs. Game 4 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 7 – Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 8 – Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Saturday

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 9 a.m.
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 11 – Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Sunday

Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 11 a.m.

Regular-season standings

UTSA 17-10, 36-19
East Carolina 17-10, 33-21-1
Rice 16-11, 34-22
UAB 15-12, 31-24
Memphis 13-14, 22-32
FAU 12-15, 28-27
Wichita State 12-15, 28-27
Charlotte 12-15, 28-27
South Florida 11-16, 32-21
Tulane 10-17, 25-31

Notable

Brady Waugh, Wesley Helms and JP Head homered on Saturday in an American Conference baseball regular-season finale as the UAB Blazers rolled to a 23-11 run-rule victory over the UTSA Roadrunners.

Officials called the game after eight innings. It was UTSA’s first loss of the season by run rule.

With a three-run lead, the Blazers sent 13 batters to the plate and broke it open with nine runs in the top of the fifth, as the visitors at Roadrunner Field won two of three in the series.

Records

UAB 31-24, 15-12
UTSA 36-19, 17-10

Coming up

American Conference tournament, Clearwater, Fla., Wednesday May 20 through May 24

Top-seeded UTSA, with a double bye, is set to open play on Friday, May 22, opponent TBA

Notable

The Roadrunners finished the regular season with five losses in their last eight games.

Included were an 11-8 loss at fourth-ranked Texas and a 19-4 run-rule victory over Texas State in non-conference play.

After the Texas game, the Roadrunners dropped two of three on the road in the American at Memphis.

Following the lopsided victory over Texas State, they lost two of three at home to UAB to close conference and regular-season play.

With four games left on the conference schedule, the Roadrunners held a comfortable three-game lead over the East Carolina Pirates in the conference standings.

The Pirates charged at the end to make up the difference, tying for first in the standings with a season-closing, three-game road sweep over the FAU Owls.

UTSA clinches back-to-back American baseball titles

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The UTSA Roadrunners hoist their championship trophy Friday night after defeating the UAB Blazers 19-9 on the run rule, securing at least a share of the American Conference regular-season championship. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners fell behind twice Friday night but rallied both times, eventually storming to a 19-9, run-rule victory over the UAB Blazers, as they clinched at least a tie for the American Conference baseball title.

Officials called the game after UAB’s at bat in the top of the seventh on the run rule.

With the victory and the championship, the Roadrunners have now won the American two years in a row.

Diego Diaz lit up the UAB Blazers with two home runs, including a grand slam, and a double. He also produced six RBIs. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Last year, they did it in dominant fashion, winning 23 of 27 games in conference on the way to a school-record 47 victories and a trip to the NCAA Super Regional.

This year, they have recorded a 36-18 overall record, 17-9 in the American, leading into Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Blazers.

The East Carolina Pirates, at 32-21-1 and 16-10, still have a chance to tie for the top spot if they can win and the Roadrunners lose on the final day.

But even if that happens, Roadrunners would be regarded as co-champions and would be the No. 1 seed in next week’s American Conference tournament.

East Carolina beat the FAU Owls, 6-1, on Friday night to stay within one game of UTSA in the standings.

In an interview with ESPN after the game, an emotional seventh-year UTSA head coach Pat Hallmark acknowledged how much pride he felt in his players. He agreed that it was a special moment.

“We’re very grateful,” he said. “Just grateful for the players.”

For UTSA players and coaches, emotions have run the gamut over the past few weeks.

They lost two out of three last weekend in Memphis, the first time all season that they dropped a series in the conference.

Returning home, they run-ruled the regional rival Texas State Bobcats 19-4 Tuesday night in non-conference play, only to have the outcome marred by a postgame altercation between Hallmark and Texas State coaches.

Jacob Silva. UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Jacob Silva, a UTSA sophomore from San Antonio Clark High School, jumps into a gaggle of teammates returning to the dugout after hitting one of his two home runs against UAB. – Photo by Joe Alexander

On Wednesday, UTSA released a statement, with athletic director Lisa Campos calling the coach’s conduct after the game “unacceptable.” Also in the statement, Hallmark apologized to UTSA, its fans and the Texas State program.

One night later, on Thursday, the Roadrunners hosted the Blazers in the first game of the season-ending series with a chance to clinch at least a share of the title.

But the Blazers made some sterling plays in the field and hit a couple of home runs to win 7-6, keeping the Roadrunners from celebrating.

In the end, the celebration came Friday night after UTSA pounded out 19 hits, including eight for extra bases.

Individually, both Diego Diaz and Jacob Silva socked two home runs apiece, with Diaz connecting on a first-inning grand slam.

Both talked about their emotions in post-game interviews with ESPN.

“I don’t know,” said Diaz, who also had a double on a three-hit, six RBI night. “I’m just seeing the ball well and trusting in the work that I’ve done.”

Added Silva, a transfer from TCU who played San Antonio Clark High School, “It’s a great feeling.”

Silva’s performance in the clincher was sweet after he didn’t see much playing time last year at TCU.

“The only thing I can ask for is an opportunity,” he said. “I thank coach (Pat) Hallmark and coach (Ryan) Aguayo and my teammates for having my back.”

Mike DeBattista. UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Senior Mike DeBattista earned the victory as UTSA claimed its second straight championship in the American. He shut down a UAB rally in the fourth inning and worked one and a third shutout innings, allowing only one hit. He walked one and struck out two. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Other UTSA players enjoyed monster nights, as well. Drew Detlefsen had four hits. Jordan Ballin tied Diaz with three base knocks apiece.

RBI leaders included Diaz with six, Silva with four and Caden Miller with three.

Everyone in the lineup scored at least once as UTSA picked up ace pitcher Conor Myles, who was rocked for nine runs in three and two thirds innings.

Myles entered the game with a 2.45 earned run average. When he exited, the Blazers held a 9-7 lead and had hit three home runs, one each by JP Head, Landon Beaver and Max Price.

UTSA fans fell silent in the fourth when Myles walked off the mound, replaced by Mike DeBattista. A few minutes later, they were roaring once again as the Roadrunners scored five in the bottom half of the inning.

They added another five in the fifth to make it 17-9. In the bottom of the sixth, the Roadrunners scored two more runs for the 10-run margin on Silva’s second homer of the night and Christian Hallmark’s RBI triple.

How it happened

The first inning, in itself, was an adventure.

With one out in the top half, UAB blasted back-to-back homers, courtesy of JP Head and Landon Beaver off UTSA ace Conor Myles.

After an error by UTSA third baseman Diego Diaz allowed a base runner to reach, Myles retired two straight to end the threat.

In the bottom half, the Roadrunners answered with a five-run, outburst off UAB starter Carter Samuelson.

Conor Myles. UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA ace Conor Myles had a tough night, yielding a season-high nine runs on eight hits in three and two thirds innings. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Samuelson dug himself a hole by walking Caden Miller, yielding a single to Drew Detlefsen and walking Lane Haworth to load the bases.

The UAB starter continued to struggle with command, walking Andrew Stucky to force in UTSA’s first run.

With the bases still loaded, Diaz jerked a 1-0 fastball to right field for a grand slam and a 5-2 lead.

Myles settled down in the top of the second, retiring three straight batters to set up more fireworks from his teammates.

UAB reliever Riley Miller, who put out the first inning fire, found trouble immediately in the second as Detlefsen cranked a double into the right-center field gap.

After Miller sat down the next two batters to face him, he encountered Diaz, who took an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field.

When it sailed into the screen over the left field wall for a two-run homer, the Roadrunners had jumped out to a 7-2 lead.

Who would have guessed that it would be the beginning of a monster comeback by the Blazers?

Well, it was.

In the third, the Blazers started the rally inconspicuously enough with one run an RBI single by Beaver.

By the fourth, it became a landslide. UAB started the inning with four straight hits off Myles, including an RBI single by Wesley Helms and a three-run homer by Max Price.

The Blazers weren’t finished. After Baylor Roberts reached on a hit by pitch, Kevin Hall Jr. slashed an RBI double for the go-ahead run. Hall subsequently scored on a wild pitch to give UAB a 9-7 lead.

From there, UTSA decided to make a pitching change, bringing in Mike DeBattista to get the last out.

Myles entered the game with 2.48 earned run average. He finished his day by working three and two thirds innings and yielding a season-high nine runs (all earned) on eight hits.

Down by two runs, UTSA staged a furious rally of its own.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Jacob Silva launched a two-run homer to center field off reliever Konner Keplinger.

Brendan Conner replaced Keplinger but couldn’t slow down the Roadrunners.

After Conner issued a walk to Christian Hallmark and Aidan Eshelman singled, Miller pulled a two-run single into right field.

Detlefsen’s third hit of the night drove in the fifth run of the inning and made it 12-9 UTSA.

By the fifth inning, UAB’s bullpen was beginning to show wear and tear as the Roadrunners scored five runs in an inning for the third time in the game.

The last three runs scored with two outs on RBI singles from Eshelman, Miller and Haworth. When Haworth stroked a ball to center field, Miller came around to score and made it 17-9.

Highlighting UTSA’s sixth inning, Silva homered to center and Christian Hallmark legged out an RBI triple for the final margin.

Records

UAB 30-24, 14-12
UTSA 36-18, 17-9

Coming up

UAB at UTSA, Saturday, 11 a.m.
American Conference tournament, May 20-24, in Clearwater, Fla.

Notable

UTSA’s back-to-back conference championships in the regular season are the second in school history and the first since 2007-08 in the Southland.

The Roadrunners will open play in the American tournament next Friday in Clearwater.

The eight-team tournament itself opens Wednesday, but the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds get a double by through to Friday. If UTSA can win its first two games, it will need only three wins to claim the postseason title.

American leaderboard

UTSA 17-9, 36-18
East Carolina 16-10, 32-21-1
Rice 15-11, 33-22
UAB 14-12, 30-24
Memphis 13-13, 22-31
FAU 12-14 28-26
South Florida 11-15, 32-20
Wichita State 11-15, 27-27
Charlotte 11-15, 27-27
Tulane 10-16, 25-30

UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA players sing the school song after their title-clinching victory Friday night. The Roadrunners will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming American Conference tournament. – Photo by Joe Alexander